Elevator door control



y 1931. T. J. OSINGA 1,807,006

ELEVATOR DOOR CONTROL Filed Dec. 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 26, 1931.; T. J. OSINGA ELEVATOR DOOR CONTROL Filed Dec. 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (fig I I WHT T505, J g

Patented May 26, 1931 'rrroMAsJ. OSINGA, or cincnso, ILLINOIS ELEVATOR noon common Application filed. December 5, .1927. Serial No. 237,889.

This invention relates'to elevators of the type used in office buildings, factories and the like and more particularly to the means for opening and closing the doors of the 6 same, and it is my main object to provide a mechanism for this purpose which is simple and efficient.

1 A furtherobject of the invention s to construct the novel appliance tooper'ate auto.-. matically whereby to open thedoor of the elevator as the latter stops at a given floor, and to close the same as the elevator resumes its course. i i

.A still further obj cct 'ofthe invention is to construct the; novel mecha ism. Vin-$ 1 a manner that it will not require adjustments or frequent attention. a 1 Ano her obj ect of-the inventionis to pro vide a means whereby the, usual pneumatic and hydraulic check inciden to e ch floor is eliminated.

A final, but nevertheless important object of theinventionais to.incorpora te the safety switch commonly call d the interlock 1n he structure of the car, thereby eliminatlng the need of such a switch on'each floor,

WVith the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves in the specification and claims to follow, a'better understanding of the invention may be ained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which+- a vFigure lis an elevation of so much of the elevator; shaft: as involves one door installation, such door and associate parts be, ing shown;

Fig. Qjis a side elevation of the lower and frontal part of the car, in connection with a cooperating element in the shaft;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged Vertical. section of the medial portion of a cross head shown n g r Zy Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line of Figure 2; N

Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 51-5 of Figure 2;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical circuit involved in the control mechanism;

Fig. ,7 is iew similar to. FigureZ showing a modification for the manual operationof the control; and p f Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

In the operation of an automatic elevator M door control, the operation 01" the door is usually lnduced by a switch arrangement on the elevatoroperators hand lever. I em-f is to secure the opening of the door, since the upright position of the lever indicates that the car has come to a stop. On the other hand, when the lever is moved in either di-. rection from the center, the car is set in motion and the door must therefore be closed, Hence, the provision of the switch contacts B and C, which control the same lead selectively, depending on whether the car rises or falls from the stationary position.

My intention is that the bringing of the hand lever 10 to the medial or stop post-V tion' shall induce the operation of a motor 14,; 1n a given direction, which accordingto Figure 2 induces'the upward'travel of a gear rack 15 in mesh with a pinion 16 on the motor shaft. The gear rack 15 carries a'slide l7, suitably guided between rollers 18 and 18a; and the slide has a gradually-inclined cam bar 19 which becomes eifective upon the roller 18a to urge the same away from the slide 17. While the motor and roller 18 are carried by the car 20, the roller 18w is carried upon one end of a horizontal bar 21 of angular cross section, as noted. in 9 Figure 5, such bar being journaled toslide in; standards 22 mounted on an angle shelf 23 carried by the sidewall of the car 20. The slide bar 21 carries at its opposite end a c o h ad 2 which ex ds in a rtica direction and terminates in upper and lower receding sections 24a. The cross head also carries a rubber or other non-metallic buffer 25, suitably encased in a socket 26 and cushioned by springs 27 suitably installed in the cross head.

The general action of the slide bar 21 is to advance the cross head 24 toward the left, as viewed in Figure 2, and this action is in connection with a linkage which operates the door 28. As more clearly noted in Figure 1, the door 28, equipped with the usual overhead slide bearings 29, receives its motion by the action of links 30 and 31 which break in an upward direction on a medial pivot pin 32 when they are to open the door, the link 30 being pivotally attached to the door frame at its outer end as indicated at 33, and the link 31 being similarly attached to the door as indicated at 34. For my purpose, the links are operated through the agency of a pusher 35, effective upon an offset 30a of the link 30 by a pivotal connection 36. Thus, the off-set motion of the pusher 35 for a short distance operates the links to a sufiicient extent to draw the door fully open; yet, the travel of the pusher 35 is limited owing to the leverage in its relation to the link 30. The return of the link 30 is effected by a coil spring 37, passing from the off-set 30a to a pin 38 projected from the door frame; and the travel of the pusher 35 is guided by the application of a roller 39 carried by the lower end of the pusher along the upright 40 of the door frame adjacent to the parts now being described. The pusher is extended downwardly with a pair of break links 41 and 42, clearly shown in Figure 2, which are in tended to act as a lever when actuated in a straightening direction to lift the pusher and accomplishes the opening of the door as described.

he joint of the links 41 and 42 is preferably made with a roller upon which the straightening stress is exerted by the pressure of the cross head 24 through its buffer 25 as the cross head is moved in an advancing direction, such as when the roller 186; at the rear end of the slide bar 21 is crowded by the cam incline 19.

It will now be seen that as the motor 14 continues to operate, the cross head 24 will be urged toward the left whereby to occasion the opening of the door as described. The rack bar slide 17 carries an enlargement 44 which at this time impinges upon a spring button 45 in the motor circuit whereby to break the same and shut off the motor, so that while the car is stationary the motor has only operated as long as it was necessary to effect the opening of the door and was cut off as soon as the door had opened to its full extent. The parts involved remain stationary until the car is again started, in which event the drawing of the operators hand lever to close the switch contacts B or C turns in the reverse lead 12 causing the motor 14 to assume motion in a reverse direction. This motion, of course, draws the rack bar 15 down again and releases the slide bar 21 so that an expanding spring 46 around the same may urge it through the agency of a fixed collar 21a to assume a return motion and therefore withdraw the cross head 24 from its pressure upon the roller 43. At this juncture, the spring 37 of the door frame exerts its tension to close the door. Also, the enlargement 44 on the rack bar slide 17 has descended to operate a button 47 having the same effect as the button 45 but on the reverse lead 12 whereby to disconnect the motor 14 when the door has already closed. Thus, the motor 14 is only in operation when the door is performing its opening or closing movements.

It is now evident that the cross head 24 is carried during the travel of the car along a vertical path represented by the position of the cross head of Figure 2, from which it is apparent that the buffer 25 passes the roller 43 corresponding to each floor in slightly spaced relation when the respective doors are allowed to remain closed. Thus, the cross head is generally operated only when a desired door is to be opened. However, there are periods in the running of elevators when the operator slows down or stops the car at an intermediate point between floors. In such an event, the structure described would cause the cross head to be projected to the limit of its travel, placing the same in the way of any given roller 43 in case the car should suddenly rise or fall in proximity to a floor. It is therefore my intention to include in the mechanism a means which will only permit the cross head to project to its limit when the same is opposite a floor, so that the stopping of a car between floors will not impart a working stroke to the cross head.

In order to attain the last mentioned result, I bring the motor circuit to the site of the cross head in the form of a contact gap 48, more clearly shown in Figure 3. Opposite the gap the buffer 25 is fitted with a bridging plate 49, which closes the gap when the buffer recedes into the cross head along its cushioned supports 27. Also, I provide on top of the shelf 23 a cut-out switch box 50, having a lever 51 operated by the slide bar 21 whereby to effect the cutout as the slide bar moves in a forward di reetion a short distance, that is, a partial effect of the cam incline 19 upon the roller 18a of the slide bar. Assuming that the forward motion of the slide bar 21 is occasioned by the stopping of the car, as explained before, the presence of a floor as represented by the. roller 43 will, th ough the initia motion mentioned, cause the Cross head 2 1; to impinge upon. Said roller with its bufier whereby to close the circuit gap l8. Thus, although the switch lever 51 initially effected the cut-oil of the current for the motor, the presence of the roller l3 and therefore of a floor opposite the car has immediately caused a resumption in the operation of the motor, so that the door'will be opened as previously explained. However, should the carcease its travel at a point between floors the absence of; they roller 43 will cause the bulfer 25 and the cross head to remain electrically disconnected, so that the initial breaking of the circuit by the out-out switch lever 51 will cause the motorto stop at an early stage whereby to maintain the cross head in but slightly advanced position.

This position will occasion no harm, since the spring 46 on the cross bar 21 may return the cross head to initial position. Or, in sweeping up or down past the roller 43 incident to the floors, the buffer 25 may be r caused by such roller to recede to a position corresponding to the initial position of the cross head. The slanting ends. 24a of the cross head are, of course, provided to place the same in a receptive position as against the rollers 43 to ellect a recession ot the slide bar 21 automatically in case the cross head has in some manner exceeded its predetermined inactive advance. Alongside the switch box 50 maybe positioned a similar box 500 indicated in Fl 'ure 5. with a suitable operating lever 51a, to cut off the power of the car at the same time that a door is to. be opened. It will be understood, of course, that the levers 51 and 5.0a will merely be tripped into the cutrout box on the forward stroke of the slide bar 2l,'and in turn be swung back into. closed position of the return stroke of the slide bar. I11 the diagrammatic representation of Figure 6', but a suggestion of the car power circuit has been shown in the form of the cut-out switch 5.0a. A dual installation of the circuit gap 48, in parallel has been. shown, to assure con;

tact in case the cross head is unevenly urged.

Where an electrical motive installation is not desired for the control of the elevator doors, I have modified myforiginal construction to make the control hand operated. Thus, in Figures 6, 7 and 8, 52 represents the operators hand lever. The lever is shown in inactive position of the car, and

it may be swung on the pivot 54 toward the right when the car has been stopped at a given floor and the door is to be opened. As noted, a simple slide bar 55 and cross head 56 construction has been shown in connection with the roller 43 and other parts incident to the door operating mechanism, but instead of a power drive for the slide bar 55, the lower part of the lever 52 is usedv as a pusherclose, aga'n 5 to project the cross head to the extent of operating the door mechanism. This action is oi a simple character, but for the return of t e cross head, it will be recalled that in the electrical case, the motion of the door was controlled by the cam incline 19 so that the opening and closing could start and end gradually, through the flattening of the cam incline contour at the ends as shown, eliminating the need of the customary pneumatic or hydraulic check for these purposes; in the present or manual case, however, I add the expedient of standard air check 58 to induce return of the slide bar 55 in the same manneras an ordinary door. A suitable lever arrangement 59 is provided between the slide bar and the cylinder plunger 60. Thus, when tne slide bar 55 is actuated in a forward direction, no resistance is ofliered to the Plunger 60, and the door is therefore caused to open quickly; however, on the return pull of theair check, the checking action in the cylinder comes into play near the end of the stroke, permitting the door to close gradually.

For the proper operation of the modified controls, I usev the lower end of the arm 57 a cam to force an elevator-power switch lever 61 over toward the left (Fig. 7) on the advance of the slide bar 55. The swing of the lever 61 is. by spring tension, the current being cut on as soon as the lever 61 swings away. The arm 57 then rides over the lever as the door is caused to open and making contact when the door has fully receded, to close the circuit for the car-operating lever and enable the car to leave the floor.

I deem it advisable to indicate in Figure 7 a latch 53 which may be usedafter the hand. lever 52 has been swung to the door opening positionin cooperation with a notch 53m in the guide sector, to lock the lever in such position. This is an expedient to retain the door in open position while the operator momentarily leaves the car, so that the door may not be drawn closed by the air check and the operator locked out.

In the diagrammatic showing of Figure 6, a simple circuit for a forward-reverse motor control is illustrated, and with the parts shown in the positions corresponding to the above description, it is not deemed necessary to describe the wiring of the circuit in detail.

I have thus provided a mechanism which is simple, does not require adjustments and is positive in action. Also, no difficulty is bad in installing or handling'the mechanism, and the same may be produced and installed at a great saving over existing systems for the same purpose. The electrical portion of the arrangement involves but a simple circuit, which uses few parts and is therefore against an arm 57 mounted on the slide bar capable of use for long periods without any attention whatever.

\Vhile l have described and illustrated the invention in the preferred forms, it will be evident that the same is capable of many minor changes and refinements, and it is my intention to claim such changes and refinements as coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A. means for opening an elevator door comprising a set of links breakable to draw the door open, a pusher effective on one of the links, a guide for the pusher, and a set of break links at the base of the pusher and expansible to operate the latter.

2. An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door. a pressure-imparting element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, and a cam to impart a predetermined movement to said element.

3. An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a inresslire-imparting element carried by the car and operative up on Salt dooropener, a cam to impart a predetermined movement to said element, and a motor to operate said cam controlled by the movements of the car control.

4. An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a prcssure-imparting element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, and a. cam to impart a predetermined movement to said element, the char. ctcristics of said cam being to render the terminal portio of such movement gradual.

An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actirated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a pressure-imparting element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, a cam to impart a predetermined movement to said element, a notor to operate said cam, and means carried by the cam to stop the motor after said element has received its predetermined movement.

6. An ele 'ator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a pressure-impart-ing element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, an actuator for said element energized by the operating control oi the car, and a file-energizer :for said actuator rendered effective when the element has made a partial movement.

7. An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a pressure-imparting element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, an actuator for said element energized by the operating control of the car, a de-energizer for said actuator rendered effective when the element has made a partial movement, and a re-energizer for said actuator rendered effective when the element engages said door-opener.

8. An elevator door control comprising a pressure-actuated door-opener installed in proximity to the door, a pressure-iimparting element carried by the car and operative upon said door-opener, a motor for said element energized by the operating control of the car, a motor (lo-energizing switch actuated by said element at the end of a partial movement, and a normally open motor switch carried by the element and adapted to engage the door-opener during said movement and be closed to re-energize the motor.

9. A means for operating an elevator door comprising a set of links breakable to draw,

the door open, a spring to expand the links for the closing of the door, a pusher effective on one of the links, a guide for the pusher, a set of break links at the base of the pusher and expansible to operate the latter, a slide bar carried by the car, a cross head .frontally of the slide bar and eiTect-ive to expand said latter-mentioned break links when the slide bar is advanced, a cam operative to advance the slide bar, a spring to retract the latter when the cam is ineffective, and a motor to operate the cam.

10. A means for operating an elevator door comprisinga set of links breakable to draw the door open, a spring to expand the links for the closing of the door, a pusher effective on one of the links, a guide for the pusher, a set of break links at the base of the pusher and expansible to operate the latter, a slide bar carried by the car, a cross head frontally of the slide bar and e'l'lective to expand said lattenmentioned break links when the slide bar is advanced, acam operative to advance the slide bar, a spring to retract the latter when the cam is ineffective, a motor to operate the cam, and a resilient butler iorward of said cross head and adapted to close a circuit when the cross head ensaid latter-mentioned break links.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

THOMAS J. OSINGA. 

